Tag: Thing 21

Well, that was fun! 😀 I have always loved looking at the wonderful infographics one can find on Pinterest and elsewhere, but have never sat down to explore methods of making one. Thank you Rudai23 Thing 21, for requiring me to do just that.

I was at a loss to know what topic to cover, not having time to research one. As I was reading an online newspaper a few days ago, my eye fell on an article The Nobel Prizes in numbers. Interesting facts that few of us know or recall.

I signed up to a free account on easel.ly. I found it user-friendly, especially if you are acquainted with desktop publishing. The graphics available on the free account are limited, so I used images from Clipartpanda.com. I needed a little extra info which I found on Wikipedia. I have cited my sources on the infographic itself.

Admittedly, it would take some practice to make a really good infographic that is eye-catching and informative. That said, I’m quite happy with my first effort. I used as much as I could from the article, without cluttering the image to death.

On second thoughts, it is a bit cluttered, but hopefully easy to read. When I signed up to easel.ly I was mailed a link which I thought I would share on this blog: A complete guide to Infographics. There are some great tips which I would have to incorporate the next time.

These, from the writer of Thing 21, Michelle Breen, are just as important to remember:

Create an attention grabbing headline for your infographic;

Know your audience and tailor the content like you would do in a presentation;

Cite the sources of the data used in the infographic and check your facts;

Keep it fun by using distinctive colours and illustrations.

Talking about gorgeous infographics…look at this: The Benefits of Handwriting vs Typing, via Stephen’s Lighthouse. Oh my! I love it. And then of course, there are the wonderful infographics that are made by the talented Sylvia Duckworth…they must adorn many a classroom in schools worldwide. I also stumbled upon this article claiming to present The 100 Best Infographics. It targets North America, but has some amazing examples, with only a couple that I recognise.

Because of the visual learning experience I would imagine that, depending upon the space available within a library, it would be great to have infographics up on display, covering many different topics, throughout the year. They are adaptable to young and old, informative and decorative. A really valuable form of information presentation.

Until next time, when we discuss ‘mobile things’. 😀 Thanks again for stopping by.